If yes, why didn't we do it after 9/11?
2007-05-27 21:26:14 · 21 answers · asked by John W 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Turning the other cheek I believe to refer to having Patience, Compassionate and a Non-Violent nature. It refers to people not to take revenge with hatred and anger in the heart. It refers to people to take the time to respond, and not just to react.
It doesn't mean that we should allow others to do harm and create more pain and suffering for others. After 9/11 emotions ran high, vengence was in the hearts of many people... ( for good reason ) and today's global situation is the result of why Jesus said to turn the other cheek... because violence has not brought about peace nor appeased the anger and sorrow in the heart...
In fact, it has brought forth MORE anguish, more pain, more greed ( from those fighting for billion dolalr rebuilding projects ), more reckless abandonment in other terrorists to stand up and fight.
And what of the 1000s upon 1000s of civilians that died in those skirmishes.... do they have a right to exact the same offensive that was lashed upon them? If so... when is it going to end?
How many American people were sacrificed on 9/11? Too Many... too many grieving hearts, too many crying mothers, spouses and friends....
But over the last coupla years, how many Americans AND native Civilians; Men, Women and Children were sacrificed in the current wars? If you compare the numbers... it just doesn't add up... to fairness nor justice... it just add up to more loss for everybody
All this just because some parties decided, if you slap my cheek, I am gonna take off your whole head... and KEEP my other cheek
2007-05-27 21:50:52 · answer #1 · answered by Tiara 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
"Do you think that turning the other cheek still works today? "
Yes.
"If yes, why didn't we do it after 9/11?"
Because we had to protect ourselves. Some of us are so stupid as to believe that the Muslims would stop attacking us. Iraq is a case in point. Those aholes over there want to do us in. They want Israel dead. You can read about that every day.
Have you ever read Zechariah 14? There's no turniong the other cheeck there. I would say that it doesn't apply for those that pis off God. Here, I'll give you a little of that:
12And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.
It sounds like the cheeks are rotting as they fall!
2007-05-27 21:33:50 · answer #2 · answered by Christian Sinner 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
People can turn the other cheek but countries cannot. A person can do it because they are only responsible for themselves. If they choose to refuse violence no matter the provocation then its their choice. A country has a responsibility to its citizens like a parent has a responsibility to a child. Christ did say turn the other cheek when someone strikes you but he never said turn the other cheek when someone is killing your children.
Countries sometimes must fight or they cease to be countries. Thats just the sad facts of life. I am not saying our current fight is completely just. I don't really know if it is and I have my doubts but when attacked by an enemy clearly identified some response is required of a country that is responsible to its citizens.
2007-05-27 21:44:54 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
we have lost 3,400 documented lifes in our efforts presumably 600,000 Iraqis and those are only the published records . the twins towers lost approx. 3,000 lives . And other than a disputably justified revenge we have not succeded in improving anything . I still believe in defense but this is not .
turning the other cheek may stop things from advancing beyond control but practical recourse is sometimes a fact of life under the greatest scrutiny of conscience possible . If we did not defend the just they would cease to exist.
however first comes honesty and virtuous judgment.
Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.
Albert Einstein
if you can't believe this next time you break a traffic law ask if they will shoot you instead of giving you a ticket.
2007-05-27 21:48:34 · answer #4 · answered by dogpatch USA 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Gandhi once said 'an eye for an eye only leaves the whole world blind'....
I would like to think that turning the other cheek still works, but anyone who's ever done that (either as an individual or as part of a group of people) will tell it doesn't always work and you often get burned...
Maybe everyone was just too afraid of getting burnt to turn the other cheek... or maybe all those god fearing Christians like Geroge Dubbleya need to start practising what they preach....
2007-05-27 21:30:05 · answer #5 · answered by miss.t 1 · 1⤊ 2⤋
It never "works" or "worked". It is not a principle to get a result. It is to teach us to be patient, and to suffer rather than to cause us to bring evil on another. Justice should not be required in every instance.
It is also that God will place judgment upon them. He will deal with them rather than the person injured. It is to the individual, and even in that is not a call to no defense.
"Turning the other cheek" is not a strategy for security, or for safety. It is certainly not for government policy.
Would you also argue that a man attempting to rape your wife or kill your child should be left alone to do so, or once having done it should be freed to do as he pleases? Would you also offer the rapist your daughters, or the murder your other family members? If so please do tell me how this "works" exactly.
Do we overturn all of the civil and criminal court rulings? Do we allow men such as Hitler to exterminate a race of people and conquer the world? Certainly not.
Again what is meant by "does it work"? I think if we are honest we would generally conclude that it never "works" for it is not intended to get a result.
2007-05-27 21:35:10 · answer #6 · answered by Calvin 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Turning the other cheek is primarily between individuals, not nations. Few people dispute that the invasion of Afghanistan was an appropriate response to 9/11. Many people dispute that the invasion of Iraq was an appropriate response to 9/11.
2007-05-27 21:29:46 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 2⤋
Yes it stills works today just as it did yesterday. sometimes in life you have to know when to fold them and then you must also know when to whip some ***. As of 911, to me since you knew who slapped the **** out of you. I don't think turning the other cheek was warranted. It seems to me you have a religious background, even god would have spanked some booty that day, and I'm definitely one for turning the cheek and walking away, but you slap me in that type of fashion, I think we would have a very tense moment on hand (lol).
Take care
2007-05-27 21:37:10 · answer #8 · answered by alan m 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's still a good policy. but noone ever does it anymore.
we're the united states, that's why! have we ever turned the other cheek in a military conflict? maybe we're all violent barbarians. i dunno.
on the other hand, turning the other cheek is probably the best solution for many of the problems in the middle east.
2007-05-27 21:34:56 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The saying should not be taken literally. What turning the other cheek really means is do not retaliate. There times though when we have to retaliate to defend ourselves. That's okay with the Lord.
Peace and blessings!
2007-05-27 21:36:52 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋